But an artist? Stop by the Tyngsboro Public Library and see for yourself.

Ten works drawn and painted by state Rep. Colleen Garry are on display there through Jan. 29.

The fact that the Dracut Democrat added sketcher/painter to the two occupations she's best known for isn't so surprising when one considers three key factors that inspired her to express her inner artist.

For one, artistic talent runs in the family. Garry's oldest sister, Maureen, won raves for her drawing ability from a young age, while her second sister, Cathleen, is a "fabulous" musician and music teacher, said Garry, 50.

More recently, her young nieces have become active artistically.

Garry also cited Dracut schoolteacher Denise Gil, an exceptionally talented painter, as someone close to her who has inspired and encouraged her artwork.

But perhaps the strongest factor that motivated Garry to pick up a pencil or paintbrush regularly last year was her bruising political battle against a former Dracut High School bandmate, Cathy Richardson, which proved to be the most stressful election campaign in Garry's 18 years in office.

"I found (drawing and painting) to be very relaxing, very calming during the campaign," said Garry. "I just really enjoyed it."

Especially on those days when she felt the most stress.

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"On some days during the campaign when I might've had a rough day, my aides told me, 'Maybe you should go paint,' " said Garry. "It took me away from everything. ... It's positive 'me' time."

Garry first took up making ceramics a few years ago, partly as an emotional antidote following the deaths of her parents, she said. In January 2011 she began putting pencil to paper, drawing mostly still-life objects and landscapes.

"After the pencil drawings, I did some pastels, then oil painting, and I found a little bit of talent, I guess," she said.

As Garry's portfolio grew to include three pencil drawings, three pastels and four oil paintings that took anywhere from four to eight hours each to create, a friend paid the ultimate compliment by asking to purchase her painting of a lighthouse, she said.

Her "most personally meaningful" piece of art to date is a front view of Dracut High School, on which astute observers will note the initials of Garry's late father and longtime Dracut assistant superintendent, Martin Garry. When the Tyngsboro library exhibit ends, Garry will "permanently loan" the school rendering for display at her alma mater, she said.

"Painting has changed my life in how I look at the world around me now," said Garry. "You see things a little bit differently. When I look up at the clouds I notice what colors they are, and think of

how I would paint them. When traveling places on vacation, I'll take photos of scenes I want to paint."

Next up, Garry intends to tackle watercolors and sketching or painting people, she said.

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